“My 18 years of taking visitors to Khayelitsha has now stopped as there are no foreign tourists coming to Cape Town now , and South Africans don’t pay operators to visit townships, so I have no idea how l will sur-vive this and continue supporting not only myself, but people, projects
and businesses there”–Jenny Nomvuyo Housdon
CoMMuNITIeS uNITe AGAINST PoveRTy
Ibhalwe ngu Zizipho Ninzi
Lockdown came at a time where events were at its peak and art-ists were booked for at least three months, event’s organizers lost their deposits and no one could’ve planned for the dismay of the
pandemic. Zibonele events department had an event planned called In-dumezulu where it had invested a lot in paying artists, securing venue and marketing for the event, what seemed to be troubling is the people who have used their last incentives in buying tickets to an event that never was due to the lockdown.
The entertainment industry came together in finding ways to keep themselves afloat by hosting events and entertaining people on-line, one of the biggest South African DJ Back Coffee turned international used his platform on social media to raise funds for SaveAbusi-ness charity, Thando Thabethe feeding the
streets of Joburg and many other celebrities like Somizi Mhlongo. Some artists even bagged gigs with the popular brand called “Lockdown house party” on the popular music show on Channel O.
However it hasn’t been easy for the local Dj’s who lost their gigs because they used to be res-ident Dj’s, Olwethu Trom who is the Resident Dj at KwaAce says “I have lost gigs and resi-dency that pays the bills, this has complicated my life and affected my livelihood”. Other businesses that has been hit by the pandemic are talent agencies that had to close down for castings, Wescout Management director ex-plains –“Productions everywhere had stopped
meaning not only my business is suffering but my models and artists as well, now that we are back in operations under level three we are learning to adjust but It’s going to take a while for things to get back to normal” –Xolani Mlonyeni
“In the difficult times we in, I believe leaders leaders have the respon-sibility to be extra ordinary to do extraordinary things and reposition
their people so to cross the dens lion unharmed” – said Sisipho soup kitchen director, Asavela Peko
Written by Ashia Nkontsa
EZABAHLALI4
It is no surprise that the pandemic has affected a lot of people and has brought about change that people are calling ”the new normal” the regulations has changes people’s lives through businesses, work and their live-lihood. We took to the streets and asked people how they have been affected by the lockdown.
“2019 was a difficult year for me, I was hoping that 2020 would be different and thought it would be a year of blessings. I hate not being able to play netball and now having to be indoors 24/7, no more extra murals as per usual and last-ly having to fall behind with school work for not attending.”- Zimkita Matshoba, Student
“Ukumiswa ngxi kweentshukumo kuchaphazele ikamva lam,kuba besele ndifakwe emsebenzini emva kokugqiba kwam izifundo zoqeqesho lweenyanga ezintathu. Kuthe kwakufika i-lock-down,avalwa amashishini amancinane ndabe ke ndohluthwa loo ntlaka emlo-nyeni.”- Yolisa Mpenya, Unemployed
“lockdown has affected me in a way that, My mom is a business woman and I am working as PA , month end we would divide house bills among each other. But now being the only one that works it’s really difficult because I have to take responsibility of ev-erything in the house.” - Sibongile Maciko
“Being a street vendor who sells fruit and veg is difficult during this time , I had already stocked a lot of veg and fruit to sell just before lockdown was im-plemented ,not being able to sell really cost me , my fruit and veg got rotten in the house during the time. Even after Nkosazana Zuma announced that street vendors could resume work, it was still difficult because I had to get permit which was not easy to get.”- Fikile Nqandu, Street vendor
“I run a small business here in khayelitsha, whereby I sell Kota (Bunnychow). As we all know kota is one of the well-known and loved foods in the townships, people enjoy eating kota . so after closing my business I had no income , even after opening my business under level 3, business is not the same any more , turn over changed drasti-cally to a point of not being able to pay my very one employee.”- Maxwell Ncapha, Small business Owner
Being stuck in one place not being able to visit family members , when one wishes too , the long ques at the shops and bank , some of us are too old and not fit to be standing in long ques. - Xolisile Mbuthuma, Pensioner
“Not being able to operate with my car wash business which I heavily depend on, so I am struggling a lot.”- Aviwe Gqomoyi, Car Washer
“I miss my family so badly, just before the implementation of lock down I was meant to go home in the Eastern cape , after not seeing my family for about a year now.”- Tumie Stoffels, Unemployed
5
EDITORIAL
Ibhalwe nguNomaxabiso Mgqawule
CoRoNAvIRuSGENERAL HPUBLIC HOTLINE:
0800 029 999WhatsApp: 060 012 3456
FRoM TowN Two To AFRICAIqale isasazela phantsi kwebhedi, yasuka
During the elevating numbers of COVID19 cases in our country. Safety precautions were implemented in mostly by the government. Precau-tions that eliminate social gathering or any events that consist of many
people in one vicinity. Because of that learning institutions from lower level to varsity level were and still postponed. Church events and all festivals are post-poned, places of entertainment such as clubs, game reserves, parks events and beaches. Also, gym and a workout that requires being outdoors were postponed. People were encouraged to adapt new forms of entertainment with small groups, and without consumption of alcohol and smoking. All these new life changing transformations enforced in order to suppress the spread of the pandemics. Most of workplaces were closed, many lost their jobs. University residences closed, and students go back home. These restrictions were even more strict in lockdown level five. Now the country have moved to level 3 things are not back to normal yet, as number of corona virus are still increasing in high volume.
Most people are suffering from different types of mental health challenges that are all triggered by Corona and lockdown restrictions. “I have been all alone during the entirety of the lockdown. It has reminded me exactly how lonely I have felt in my life.” Said Ngasiirwe KatushabeThere are a number of issues that led to depression for most people, that even though they are not infected they are affected.
“When my anxiety kicks in I lock myself in and allow the emotions run through and when I’m ready to get out of it music Always helps me, it’s been my source of strength through the most difficult times of my life and it still carries me.” Said Sethu Guza.
She also advice people that are suffering from anxiety to hold on to the things that bring them happiness and always make them your source of inspiration.
“Skipped work today because I had a crazy panic attack last night.” Said Khumo Sematla
Most of essential workers are working under strict measures that they are not familiar with, that trigger lots of pressure that might cause panic attacks.
South African depression and anxiety group(SADAG) conducted an online survey, the results depict that number of suffering with depression and anxiety has rapidly increase during lockdown. Before lockdown they were 56% and now during lockdown 65%. SADAG is offering online counselling, visit www.sadag.org also toll free number for counselling 0800 456 789.
Written by Bongeka Ntlanga
Since the beginning of the national lockdown in South Africa, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the selling/trading of alcohol has
been prohibited. The national lockdown was put in place from the 26th of March, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to curb the spread of the respiratory virus also known as Covid-19. Some of the restrictions includes social distancing, staying at home, wearing a mask in public and maintaining good hygiene. Cabinet ministers like police minister Bheki Cele, stated that alcohol consumption would play a big role in spreading
Covid-19 hence alcohol trading was banned even though it would cripple the already struggling econo-my of South-Africa.
South Africa is also known to have the highest levels of violent crime in the world, and more than half of murder victims have elevated levels of alcohol in their blood according to experts and police minister Bheki Cele. Half of all murders take place on a Friday or Saturday nights and murders have come down by 63% during level 4 and 5 of the lockdown and that suggests that other violent crimes have gone down as well.
Focusing on the economic decrease, according to a statement released on behalf of industry bodies South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (SALBA), Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) and VinPro, the trade of alcohol supports around one million jobs,
contributing 3% to the GDP of South Africa’s economy, and makes an indirect tax contribution — VAT, cus-toms and excise revenue of R51 billion. The eight-week domestic lockdown, as well as the five weeks without exports, has resulted in the loss of 117 600 jobs.
In the craft beer industry alone, there would have been a further 64% of industries that wouldn’t have been able while under the ban, to meet their payments by the end of June and 13% have given notice on their premises and announced their decision to staff of their shut down during level 2 of the lockdown. The 540 wineries also indicated during level 1 and 2, that they will be unable to meet 70% of their payroll obligations at the end of June, but with the country on level 3 of the lockdown now and alcohol trading operating, the numbers in sales have pick up immediately and jobs resumed since the 1st of June according to Bellville Spar tops, who sold more than 70% of their stock which was in the liquor shop.
SouTh AFRICAN eCoNoMyWritten by Michelle Augus
Are Foreign owned shops contributing to the number of covid-19 infections?As the number of Covid-19
cumulate and have reached 100 000 positive cases, we started
getting curious as to why even after the efforts have been made with lockdown and strict regulations. We followed a team that was commissioned by the Office of the Premier, Alan Winde to do loud hailing to all areas around Cape Town to create an awareness campaign for people to #stayHome #WearMasks and keep social distance of 1.5 m. Although about 45% of people are ad-hering to the regulations, some people are not bothered by the rapid spread of the virus and ready to continue with
their lives. One thing that seemed to be common though about all these areas was how the foreign owned shop were zero compliant to the regulations set by the Government. Our estimation was only 10% of these businesses were compliant in having hand sanitizers at the door and for people to wear masks before entering the store including the owners and cashiers.We talked to a few shop owners as to why are they negligent. One Soma-lian shop owner based in Lansdowne said “what do you expect us to do if people don’t want to wear masks?, we are running a business here” . One
other shop owner from Khayelitsha exclaimed “hey we don’t die of corona, we are not scared of corona”.Going to all these areas has proven that these shops are contributing in the number of infections, with the exchange of money, people touching things in the shops and not wearing masks. The shops continue to be a problem as they have been shown to be the ones who are selling illegal cigarettes and have been busted by the police red handed a number of times.
Written by Ashia Nkontsa
IIMIDLALO NOLONWABO
The captain of the springboks Siya Kolisi is giving back food parcels and protec-tive parcels to the community through his Foundation during the lockdown period.
Siphiwe Tshabalala known as “Shabba” did his fair share of giving back to the community “one family at a time, re-member to stay safe all the time” said the former Kaizer Chiefs star Shabba
Emva kokumiswa ngxi kwezinto ngenxa yo-bhubhane we sifo i Covid_19 , eshiye abathandi bomboxo bengenanto yakwenza ingakumbi abe SUPER RUGBy ngoba ibiseyi phakathi naphakathi kwaye amaqela oMzantsi Afrika ebesele noko ebonakalisa ulwamvila, ingakumbi Ookrebe ( Cell C Sharks).
Akukacaci ukuba izakuthini imeko yombhoxo we SuperRugby eyonanto yenza nzima yinto yokuba lemidlalo idlalwa ngamaqela amazwe amahlanu, Australia, New Zealand, South Afri-ca, Argentina ne Japan.
